LET’S COUNT DOWN, CALM DOWN AND CONSIDER JESUS

In one day from today it will be Christmas Eve.

It’s the day before the day before Christmas. And every day that we have been given is a good day for us to take a few moments to calm down, breathe deeply and deeply consider Jesus. Consider Jesus. Consider the refreshing and cleansing He brings into our lives. Consider the renewal and purity He pours into us.

In the little corner of the world where I spent my childhood and most of my adult years before I turned forty (many years ago now), our winters along Lake Ontario were long and deeply covered in snow. Throughout the winter, there would never be too many days that would pass from one snowfall to the next. Although the length of our winters was sometimes a little hard to be thrilled about, I did love the fresh falling snow.

The snow would float down from the sky and cover the entire ground, every field, every hill, every house, every church, every building, every sign, every tree, every plant, every single thing that lay between heaven and earth. And it was beautiful. When the sun shone on this freshly fallen snow, it was lovely, absolutely sparkling with the sun’s reflected light. Everything looked fresh and clean, new and pure. And brilliantly white.

Consider Jesus. The beauty and the purity of the snow covering everything in its path is such a beautiful picture of how our God makes everything new with His love and His forgiveness. Consider Jesus. Consider the holiness and purity of Jesus and all He poured out in the giving of His life to us – first as that humble, helpless baby in a manger and then as that humble, atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins on the cross. Consider Jesus. And not just at Christmas. We need Him always. We need His blood, His love and His mercy to make us clean. We all need Jesus to make us whiter than snow. To make us pure and new.

…wash me and I will be whiter than snow…Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – Psalm 51:7, 10

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace… – Ephesians 1:7

To Jesus Christ who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. – Revelation 1:5-6

This is the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus! And it is always the time to celebrate the truth that Jesus was born to die so that we would be forgiven and made clean, pure and new! In Jesus we are made whiter than snow to reflect the Son’s light in all we are and in all we do.

Let’s count down, calm down and consider Jesus in this season and in every season of each of our lives!